The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-02-17
ARCTIC ISLANDS.
Recent Examples of the Sudden
Formation of Land by Vol
canic Action.
Queer People Who Dwell in the Far North
The Aleuts and the Japanese
Primitive Habitatlons.

smc rocks goes TO prove tnat the pVoceSs
" Matchmaking here has been gradual.
FROM the mainland of Alaska to the
most western island of the group vol
csanoes are of frequent occurrence; and
even at this late day the sudden appear
9uce of new island or the renewed ac-
swity of some long extinct volcano
-reatcs no extraordinary excitement.
On the island Of Oonalaska, Mount
Makushn, n volcano five thousand feet
height. if still active, and on clear
lays the dark masses of smoke hang
ing about its snow-capped sumr-it can
Be easily seen from the village OF Hi
iuk. About sixty miles west OF this
ISLAND seems to ba the center of great
sst volcanic actiTity at this period. One
Of the most recent examples of the sud-
sen formation of land by volcanic ac-
tion took place here four years ago.
For nearly hundred years prior to
September, 1882, an isolated rock about
0ne-thrd of mile in length by three
aundred feet high had been observed
and commented upon by different navi-
GATORS passing through these waters
Capt Cook took occasion TO warn all
mariners whose vocation brought them
u this direction of the dangerous reefs
If Bogosioff. If we are TO belivc this
veracous chroncler, Bogosloff at the
time of his visit was vomiting forth
great masses ofsmoke and flame. Huge
5owlders were hurled into the lurid air
aud fell into the seething, boiling sea.
So vivid was the picture which Cook
Grew of the horrors of Bogosloif that
Cor years the place was avoided
aud then almost forgotten. With the
establishment of the fur-trading station
m The islands, and the consequent pas
sing of vessels, the old island once
more came into notice. but in its de-
generated old age it had become COIL
Enonplacc. All signs of volcanic activi-
sy had long since disappeared. and it
was simply regarded as an ordinary
danger to navigation" such as could
be seen along the shores of any of the
Islands.
A bold master OF one of the Alaska
Commercial company's vessels even
went so far as to doubt the existence of
a reef which Cook reported as laying
between the island and ihe mainland,
and rolling his quid one fine nc ung IL
put his helm up and steered the Mar
Jane directly over the supposed reef,
and the most diligent search with six
ty-fathom line failed to discover bot
tom This was a terrible blow to the
dreadful reputation of Bogoslof, and
when during the same year, another
adventurous spirit, emulating the ex-
ample of his predecessor, climbed the
steep sides of the extinct crater and
booked down into the dark. cavernous
depths, the humiliation of the terror
was complete, Even an extinct volca-
no has feelings which should be respect
ed, and these assaults upon its dignity
doubtless aroused all the latent fury in
the heart OF the old veteran. The SOM
nolent expression Of its weather worn
face did not change but a careful OBJ
server would have noted many peculiar
fhings which took place on and around
The island during the summer of 1882.
The water in the vacinity began to see
the and bubble and light smoke hung
over the surface. The island trembled
and the myriads of birds which had an
nuallv made this their breeding place
left their nests in the crevices OF the
rocks and with aflrighted cries flew to
some more favorable spot. Some time
during the early part of September the
natives living on an adjacent island
passed Bogoslof and noticed that all
the birds had deserted the rock, and on
che 22nd of the month. at Oonalaska,
che day suddenly became as dark as
night, the earth shook. and the cattle
grazing on the hills huddled together
an terrified groups and beloved dis
mally. A fine gray dust fell all day,
and. Notwithstanding the fact that
every window and door was closed, il
entered the houses and covered every
zhing with its soft grayness. tidal
wave rolled into the harbor, and cause
she lone little schooner lying at anchor
of the village to pitch and toss as If she
were at sea.